Workplan (2024/2025 in Progress)

2022-2023 Workplan

The Eastside Forum is working through a notable transitional and transformational period. The pandemic, severely affecting our ability to serve our members, revealed the need for the organization to rethink how we work together. In 2021 we restructured the organization, updated our bylaws, approved a growing operating budget, expanded our board, and proceeded with hiring our first ever executive director in a part time capacity. We now look to the future from a place of financial stability and high enthusiasm. The organization has valuable resources ready to be leveraged, including strong government and community relations and an engaged board. The plan for 2022-2023 is to better position the Eastside Forum as a regional representative body and beacon of coordinated, cross-sector health and human services education.

To that end, The Executive Director identified three strategic priorities for 2022-2023, aligned with our mission, and in consideration of the current position and needs of the organization. Each has strategies that will move us toward that priority. We will monitor these measures and report back to the community during our annual member meeting. In 2023 we will undertake a longer range strategic planning effort.

The Forum is creating intersectional spaces for important discussions around major public policy, emerging trends, and pressing needs facing the Eastside – with a focus on creating a shared language and aligned goals for all those working to advance health and human services.

  • Develop and release our new 2-year programming cycle and move the organization over to a 2-year workplan, syncing the organization up with the biennial state legislative session.

  • Develop, finalize, and present 4 – 5 legislative position statements that identify our educational focuses for our next two years of programming, responsive to the input from our legislative session feedback event and input from the board and city staff partners.

  • Organize and facilitate 6 educational roundtables on identified focus areas, related to emerging trends and pressing needs on the Eastside—featuring over 24 speakers.

  • Release educational materials, 1-sheets, and video recordings related to our roundtables and position statements, and invite at least 4 members to write guest articles.

  • Co-host an event with AEA in the spring to collect feedback around legislative session victories and continuing gaps, as well as facilitate an input session at the end of the year to keep our service providers engaged.

  • Evaluate our Knowledge Coalition pilot in 2022, collaborate with AEA to improve and enhance the program, and relaunch later in the Fall.

  • Develop and Facilitate our annual member meeting, bringing our membership base together in person.

  • Participate in regularly scheduled meetings of other East King County-based coalitions

  • Build partnerships with other convening organizations to partner up on program creation and coordinate with fellow eastside organizations to clarify and maximize the advocacy work each organization.

  • Identifying funding opportunities and community stakeholders for sponsorships for educational events

Advocacy through
Education

Raising awareness and understanding of emerging trends and pressing issues facing East King County, and advocating for better supports and increased funding.

Expanding our
Membership Network

We are raising the organization’s regional profile, impact, and community involvement by growing and diversifying our member base and nurturing relationships with major decision makers in our geographic service area.

  • Conduct individualized outreach to improve relationships with HHS organization representatives, learn about their work, identify emerging trends, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

  • Actively seek out relationships with East King County groups that are not already members and recruit representatives to participate in our coalitions. Continue adding to our list of prospects of East King County contacts that are not already members .

  • Participate in regularly scheduled meetings of other East King County-based coalitions and coordinate with other eastside organizations, including the Alliance of Eastside Agencies, Eastside for All, King County Alliance for Human Services, and Eastside Pathways.

  • Build relationships with Eastside cities that are not currently engaged in the work of the Forum.

  • Refine our value proposition for members, city partners, and funders and update our website.

  • Promoting member activities via our website, E-News and social media channels

We are ensuring that Eastside Forum has the team, resources, and infrastructure in place to deliver high quality programs and resources.

  • Develop a 5-year Strategy Roadmap in collaboration with the Board of Directors, City Staff, and Membership Stakeholders, to be released by Fall 2023.

  • Explore deepening our partnership with the Alliance of Eastside Agencies, seeking out opportunities to share resources, expand programming, and deliver on our mutual mission goals.

  • Recruit, onboard, and mobilize an Education Coordinator dedicated to ensuring a high-quality execution of our educational events and activities.

  • Strengthen the understanding of the mission and goals of the Forum by presenting an orientation and update to City Councils in East King County, King County Council, and State Representatives, and city staff by the end of the year.

  • Increase both contributed and earned income through grant writing and public events to support organizational sustainability and grow impact

  • Continue streamlining processes & policies to improve our ability to work cross-functionally and effectively together.